What's your favourite German word?

[PE9ZZ]

Obviously "geil" is Germany's most successful word (Bruce & Bongo). In Dutch it means "horny". I think my fave German word is Haushaltwasserkochküchengerätmithandfaßundvollautomatischerdampfdrucksignalapparatur. Kettle.

Tjerk

 

[harman/kardon]

The meaning of "geil" has changed. Some centuries ago it just meant "joyful". Now it means that someone is "horny" ore someone or something is "cool".

 

[KeninDC]

Another vote for Autobahn.

 

[harman/kardon]

I'm just reading Rifkin's "The Empathic Civilization". I learned that the word "empathy" comes from the word "Einfühlung". This is a very beautiful German word indeed. Much lovelier than for example "Blitzkrieg".

 

[IPADave]

Jägerschnitzel

 

[OnTheBlitz]

^^ Schuhlöffel (es im)

 

[IPADave]

^^ Schuhlöffel (es im)

Ja!

 

[highvoltage_]

Ja!

Prost!

 

[IPADave]

Prost!

Prosit!

 

[Christian B]

Schnucki

 

[Joewag]

Die toilette or das badezimmer. These are words that are exceptionally beautiful to see or hear when you are looking for them.

 

[illinoisteve]

verschwistert

 

[squirrelnest]

wienerschnitzel

 

[Einstein2003]

Alles klar kollege...

 

[harman/kardon]

Schnucki

"Schnucki, Schnucki, foa ma nach Kentucky..." (Bavarian dialect fun song)

"Baby, Baby, let's drive to Kentucky"

 

[bruno80918]

Aktiengesellschaft

 

[finnbow]

Schmetterling (butterfly).
One of the few German words that actually sounds pretty to American ears.

 

[highvoltage_]

Sonnenblumenkernen (sunflower seeds)

 

[IPADave]

It seems that "Schadenfreude" has been one of the most searched words on the internet today.

 

[Quadman2]

Years ago made a lot of use of "kaput"...as in, "Yep, that there motor is kaput". It's totally finished!

Most English conversations ended when "kaput" was used!

Q